DOHA (Qatar): The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) selected Khalifa International Stadium as one of West Asia’s finest stadiums.
In a report on AFC’s website, the Confederation said that Khalifa International Stadium recently became the first arena that will be used for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to be completed after undergoing extensive renovations.
The 40,000-capacity sustainable venue, located within the Doha Sports Complex, boasts a brand new roof that covers all seated areas and a sports museum.
One of its key features and a major drive behind Qatar’s bid for the competition has been the installation of cooling technology. The pitch-side temperature will thus stay at 26 degrees Celsius, while fans in the stands will also benefit as temperatures will be kept between 24 and 28C.
Originally opened in 1976, Khalifa International Stadium underwent its first major renovation in 2005 ahead of the 2006 Asian Games.
The stadium, which is the home venue for Qatar’s national football team, staged international friendlies between Brazil and England in 2009 and Brazil and Argentina a year later.
It was also the setting for one of Qatar’s biggest footballing achievements when, in 1992, the Gulf Cup of Nations was staged in Doha. Having finished as runners-up in the previous edition in Kuwait, Qatar won their first major international title after coming out on top of the six-team round-robin group.
It continues to stage major athletics events to this day and was the host for the 2019 IAAF World Championships, as well as the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, where Qatari giants Al Sadd made it to the second round before suffering a 3-2 defeat to Mexico’s Monterrey.
The Qatar national team with the Arabian Gulf Cup in 1992 at this historic venue.
